Great earrings
are never more than a few minutes away. Gather your tools and materials and
let's get busy!

This is a good basic technique for every jewelry maker to know. Earrings can be created in a few minutes
using an infinite variety of designs. You can make them simple or ornate,
large or small. They can sparkle or be earthy. Since you are the designer,
it's your world. Feel free to do some experimenting!

MATERIALS

Head pins (2 inch is a good
size)

Ear wires (Hooks or Lever Back)

BeadsUse Crystals, Glass, Pearls, Seed Beads, or Stones

Spacer beads are optional

TOOLS

Wire Cutter

Chain Nose Pliers

Round Nose Pliers

If you want to view the supplies for making
this project, I've included links to the pages that contain the materials.
Each link opens a new window.

Arrange your beads and spacers on the headpins to create a pleasing design.
It's your design, so use a combination what works for you. You need
enough wire to form a loop so don't fill the head pin too full.

Keep your designs simple in the beginning, then experiment as you gain
experience and confidence.

Use
your finger or the chain nose pliers to bend the head pin over at a 90
degree angle.

It's ok if there is a little space between the beads.
Repeat for both earrings trying to make them both the same size.

The
head pin will need to be cut to the correct length. The remaining head
pin needs be approximately 3/8 inch from the bend to the cut end. Use
the wire cutter to cut off the excess wire. You should cut both wires the same length.
By varying the amount you cut off, you
can make
larger or smaller loops. You can save the cut ends for
other uses.

Use
the round nose pliers to grip the end of the wire close to the cut end. Curl
the head pin to form a loop on both of your earring dangles. Curl them around until you form a complete
loop and try to get them both the same diameter. Practice will make this
easier for you.

Tip: Use
a Sharpie pen to mark thejaw
of your round nosepliers
so you know where to grip it each time. Always grip the wire at
the mark. The line shown is about a 1/4 inch from the tip of the jaw.

Use
the chain nose pliers to open the loops you just made. Open the
loop to the side so you don't get the loop out of round. Open each one
just enough to slip them onto your ear hooks.

Now close the loops
again using the chain nose pliers. Check to be sure each dangle can't fall off the
hook.

Both
earrings should be approximately the same length. Use the chain nose pliers to adjust or
straighten each of them as needed.

Place
them in your ears and you can be proud to proclaim to the world "I designed and made
them myself!" Enjoy!

LOOP
LINKS

Experiment
using this loop technique to make a loop on both ends of a piece of
wire. Put a bead in the middle and you have made a "bead
link". You can hook the links together to form a chain of beads or use
the links to connect short pieces of chain and you can form beautiful bead
and chain jewelry.

Trim each end, then bend
the ends at 90 degrees as shown before.

Form a small loop on each
end. The loop on the right is shown 3/4 closed.

Close each loop and
straighten as needed to make a finished link.

This
is a great use for that "end" you cut off the head pin when you made the earrings
above. Use these scraps of wire to make links using this technique.
They can be used to create "links" for use in other jewelry
as well.

This same technique can be used to
make the links uses to create a beaded rosary.

You
can use these links to create interesting combinations. I
like to make articulated earrings like the earring pictured above. I use the loop link to connect
the dangle link to the earring so they have more movement in the middle.

Feel free to print these instructions
and share them with your friends. We require that you include our
name and copyright information. Contact us prior to using this for
classes or commercially, you need our permission.

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